do YOU guys mind being bothered by others commenting on your cameras?

99% of the time, people ask me what kind of camera I have, or point it as "hardcore" or "professional" looking, and then credit my camera for taking good pictures thereafter. I HATE THAT.

However, I was stopped by a guy while spending time in Austin, TX who casually asked what kind of camera I had, while I was walking along the edge of UT. He looked at my camera with a look on his face that read, "I want to be able to afford a camera like that one day." I was totally fine with this kind of moment. We chatted for a bit to discuss equipment, interests, etc. Hope he gets the tool he wants one day.
 
gavinlg said:
I can't imagine why anyone would be annoyed by people taking an interest in their camera, I love speaking to people about them. The only camera I've ever had consistent luck with people commenting on it is my x100. For some reason, people compliment it non-stop wherever I go. I guess they recognize good design when they see it!
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I agree totally, unless of course its a potential mugger. I have actually started carrying my camera more openly, on a strap rather than in the hand where its hard to see. I like having the chance to explain to people that film is far from dead and that there are many advantages to useing film.
 
I enjoy it when someone asks, but it rarely happens to me as I'm usually off by myself in the woods. The last time was when I was shooting with a Calumet CC-400 4x5 monorail. A boy about twelve came up to me in a park and said that I should shoot some video of him riding his bike as he can do some "pretty great tricks".
 
Happens all the time, don't mind in the least. Usually people who think my cameras are beautiful -- especially the Rolleiflex. You know what? They are.
 
I find it annoying to a certain degree. I shoot with a Leica but don't know much about them, so one I get approached about it, I don't have much to talk about. I'd rather talk photographers or something. With that said, if I am (rarely) approached its usually not some one coming up to talk specifically Leica, so I am happy to talk :D

On tape: It makes me less of a target - I started doing it after I got put in a really uneasy situation once. I worked pretty hard to own what little gear I have, and I've taken it all over. I'd be sad if I lost it.
 
When I meet a photographer in the field, the conversation usually begins with "what are you shooting?" types of questions. It then usually slides into equipment and technique, centered around the activity of the moment, purely because when you're in the field shooting, you usually don't have any fine art prints at hand to discuss aesthetics and it's not the center focus for the moment.

However, when I meet a photographer at an exhibition or other photo-centered event, the usual conversation is about the work on display. There might be a side line conversation about the equipment used, but it rarely runs very long or deep. The photos are the center of that chance encounter.

It's all good. As photographers, we are of course very involved with our equipment. We should simply also be very involved with our photography.

G
 
When I had a Leica M2 and M6, people would always notice the camera and want to chat. I feel more inconspicuous with a more conspicuous camera while on the street.
 
Wow, many yakety-yak people here... ;)

This makes me wonder if my wife is right and I'm indeed a uncommunicative old stinker...
 
A photographer in public has the RIGHT, and should not expect to have to talk to anyone else.
 
I'm guilty of mostly being on the giving end of this. Every time I see someone with an interesting camera, I come over and greet that person. I confess: I usually use this as an opportunity to shoot photos of people with their gear (they usually reciprocate by shooting me as well).
 
I have two young children who are, without any exaggeration, extremely cute and photogenic.

When I shoot them in a public place with any camera in NYC, I get endless comments about my Leica M9 and even my DSLR. I'm not ordinarily a sociable person, but for the sake of setting a good example for the children, I force myself to make pleasant responses to passerby and kibitzers.

Last week, I broke out the Rolleiwide and brought the kids to a downtown park. Good God almighty, it seems like every moron, tourist, ignoramus and nerd was out in force and had to come up to me to say something about the camera AND the kids.

"Dat's an OLD CAMERA. DAT'S A REFLUX CAMERA! THE DIGITAL IS INSIDE THAT CAMERA, RIGHT? DAT CAMERA HAS FILM MEGAPIXELS!"

Furthermore, my wife is Asian and I am not. My son looks mixed but my daughter looks pure Asian. If my wife is not with me, I get asked about 5 times per day: "SHE IS VERY PRETTY, DID YOU ADOPT HER FROM KOREA OR CHINA?" (right in front of her). DO THEY SPEAK ENGLISH??? WHERE ARE HER PARENTS??

I'm going to start really shotgunning my insults soon, I can't take it. The Rolleis cause the worst of the imbeciles to come out of the woodwork for some reason. It looks like I'll have to mothball them for the time being.
 
If you like taking pictures in the street and you like the pictures to have people in them but you do not want the people to look as if they are annoyed or trying to escape from you then it helps if you have spoken to them beforehand. So if someone asks you about your gear, after you have answered their questions you ask if they would mind being in your picture and then you usually end up with a much happier person in the frame.
 
Richard C said:
If you like taking pictures in the street and you like the pictures to have people in them but you do not want the people to look as if they are annoyed or trying to escape from you then it helps if you have spoken to them beforehand. So if someone asks you about your gear, after you have answered their questions you ask if they would mind being in your picture and then you usually end up with a much happier person in the frame.
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I do not want passerby in my family photos and I make a point of trying to go to a quiet spot away from crowds.
 
Due to my spinal issues I don't get out and about very often, but when I do I am frequently told that my cameras look more like "gatling guns" than cameras! (see below) I also get a lot of "Awesome camera, dude", "What is that?", and "Is that really expensive?" I tell them that the "gatling gun" turret cost more than the camera itself!

If I want to really cause some ruckus, I take along my Autographic 1A folder; it never fails to draw a lot of attention. Someone said "That thing must me a hundred years old!". "Nope", I replied, "only 95 years!".

I don't mind in the least if people want to stop and talk about my cameras, or photography in general. In fact, I rather enjoy it!

Glen


Zorki-4 FSU rangefinder (1963)
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FED 2 (D6) FSU rangefinder (1960)
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Kodak Autographic 1A (1917)
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Doesn't bother me. Usually goes:
Them: "Is that a Leica?"
Me: "No, it's an Epson, but with an awesome Leica lens!"
Them: "Oh." <walks away>
 
I get stopped over the Fuji X-Pro1 too these days. A guy with a M8 stopped me over the weekend. Even snapped a photo of me. I don't mind it.
 
Prior to my M8, I had a Nikon DSLR and the huge 17-55mm lens. I recall being on a trip to Puerto Rico, and a woman looked at me and said, "What a serious lens!" I knew then that it was time to get into a camera system that was smaller and less attention grabbing.
 
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